Mic Check Events Finds a Home in the Dome
- julia wallace
- Jul 6
- 3 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Monday nights aren't usually known for packed dance floors.
But over the past year, thanks to Mike Cruz and Mic Check Events, the first and third Mondays at Notsuoh have become some of Houston's most high energy nights for electronic music.
From the moment Mike first visited the Dome, it was clear he understood something about the space. Rather than seeing its unusual architecture as a limitation, he embraced its oddness. The winding staircases, hidden rooms, and intimate circular theater became part of the experience itself. Guests for his Monday events make their way through the uniquely and eccentrically staged historic building before emerging into the dome filled with immersive visuals, deep bass, and an enthused audience gathered around a carefully curated lineup of local DJs.
Mic Check Events has always been interested in creating experiences that feel personal while celebrating corners of the electronic music community that don't always have dedicated spaces. Mike consistently programs lineups that showcase emerging artists and underrepresented genres within Houston's diverse DJ scene, creating opportunities for musicians and audiences to discover something new together.
His enthusiasm is infectious. Every event arrives with thoughtful details, from high-quality sound and lighting to carefully selected visual artists who transform the Dome into his immersive environment. Notsuoh's resident visual artist, 1L50N, has become a regular collaborator, filling the walls of the Dome with poetic glitch imagery, found footage, and abstract visuals that pulse alongside the music. Together, the sound and projections transform the room into something that feels both intimate and expansive.
Mike's dedication to creating the best possible experience even inspired improvements to the Dome itself. Bringing in powerful BassBoss sound equipment for his events demonstrated what the room was capable of, ultimately encouraging upgrades to the venue's own audio system. The result is a listening experience that can be felt as much as heard, allowing the Dome to better support artists working in electronic music and immersive performance.
As the series has grown, so has its community. Local vendors regularly join the events, familiar faces return month after month, and Mondays—traditionally one of the quietest nights for live music—have become a destination for people looking to dance, connect, and hear adventurous new sounds.
One of the most exciting developments to emerge from this collaboration has been Mike's ongoing Portal project, an experiment that reimagines what a live music venue can be.
During Portal events, audiences inside the Dome experience not only the DJs performing in Houston, but a simultaneous lineup taking place in San Antonio. Through live video projection, each venue broadcasts the other in real time. Attendees in Houston can see the crowd in San Antonio, while audiences there watch performances unfolding inside the Dome at exactly the same moment. Rather than replacing in-person gatherings with livestreams, Mike’s portals use streaming technology to strengthen them, creating shared experiences between cities while preserving the energy of being physically present with a community.
The concept opens exciting possibilities for the future. As more artists have access to livestreaming technology, Mike envisions connecting independent venues across Texas and eventually around the world, allowing local scenes to share music, audiences, and creative energy without sacrificing the intimacy that makes these gatherings meaningful.
We're proud that the Dome has been one of the first places to help bring that vision to life. Seeing performances inside this historic room broadcast live to another city—and watching another city's celebration appear inside the Dome at the same time—has been a reminder that experimental ideas don't always require massive institutions or expensive technology. Sometimes they begin with a few dedicated artists, a historic room, and a willingness to imagine a different way of bringing people together.
Working with Mike Cruz has been one of the great joys of programming at Notsuoh. His generosity, curiosity, and unmistakable enthusiasm have helped build not only a remarkable series of events, but a thriving community that continues to grow with every gathering. We can't wait to see where the next Portal opens.
Many thanks to Mike Cruz, Mic Check Events, 1L50N, the many DJs, VJs, vendors, and dancers who have made these Monday nights such an unforgettable part of life at Notsuoh.
This past Monday (7/5/26) was no exception. Mike Cruz partnered with @BUTRFLYPresents for another evening highlighting some of Houston's talented local DJs while continuing a tradition of giving back to the community. BTRFLY Presents regularly organizes food drives alongside its events, so guests were encouraged to bring a canned food donation in support of their mission to help build a more beautiful world through collective care. It was a good time.
The sets went down as follows:
8:05pm-9:10pm : Maddie Scott
9:10pm-10:15pm : Vance Lawrence b2b Kid Wzrd
10:15pm-11:20pm : Jyanigma
11:20pm-12:25am: Tamashi
12:25am-1:30am : Mark OG b2b
Currently, MicCheck lights up the dome every 1st & 3rd Monday of the month -- check HERE to see upcoming events at Notsuoh.
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